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September 29, 2003
The press gaggle tap-dance
Josh at Talking Points Memo has the transcript of this mornings press gaggle where the press was trying to get a straight answer from Scott McClellan in regards to several question son the Plame situation. This is just one portion of it, but it shows just how hard it can be to get even a simple yes or no kind of question answered. (The comment about clairvoyance is priceless, BTW):
QUESTION: Has the President either asked Karl Rove to assure him that he had nothing to do with this; or did Karl Rove go to the President to assure him that he --Go read the rest, it's fascinating. I didn't know it was possible to tap dance that fast for that long....McCLELLAN: I don't think he needs that. I think I've -- and I've spoken clearly to this publicly that -- but it's -- yes, I've just said it's -- there's no truth to it.
QUESTION: But I mean --
McCLELLAN: So I think it doesn't --
QUESTION: But is the President getting his information from you? Or did the President and Karl Rove talk, and were there assurances given that Rove was not involved?
McCLELLAN: I've already provided those assurances to you publicly.
QUESTION: Yes, but I'm just wondering if there was a conversation between Karl Rove and the President, or if he just talked to you, and you're here at this --
McCLELLAN: He wasn't involved. The President knows he wasn't involved.
QUESTION: How does he know that?
QUESTION: How does he know that?
McCLELLAN: The President knows.
QUESTION: What, is he clairvoyant? How does he know?
QUESTION: You spoke specifically -- you spoke to Rove specifically about this matter, correct?
McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
QUESTION: You spoke to Rove specifically about this matter? You asked him whether or not he was the leaker, or --
McCLELLAN: I don't know what the relevance of getting into every private conversation, John -- is, John. I've made it very clear that it's simply not true.
QUESTION: Based on what?
QUESTION: Based on what?
QUESTION: What are you basing -- what are you --
McCLELLAN: Someone asked me if I had spoken with him, and I said, yes.
QUESTION: And you spoke with him about this issue?
QUESTION: Did you ask him, directly?
McCLELLAN: I have spoken with him, yes.
QUESTION: But the President hasn't spoken with him directly about this issue? You have and the President hasn't?
McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Keith.
QUESTION: Well, that was the question.
McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
QUESTION: You spoke directly with Rove about this?
McCLELLAN: I have spoken -- I speak to him all the time, on a lot of things.
QUESTION: He categorically denied to you --
McCLELLAN: I just told you, it's simply not true.
QUESTION: Yes, but you refuse to say whether or not it was Rove who told you it's untrue.
McCLELLAN: No, no, I spoke to Rove. I spoke to him about -- no, I spoke to him about these accusations, I've spoken to him.
QUESTION: And Rove told you that they were not true --
McCLELLAN: That's why I would be telling --
QUESTION: -- or is it just you --
McCLELLAN: That's why I would be telling you what I did.
QUESTION: -- or is it just you who is telling us?
McCLELLAN: No, I have spoken to him and been assured. And that's why I reported to you and reported to the media that it is simply not true. I like to check my sources, just like you do.
Posted by thorswitch at September 29, 2003 06:35 PM
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